Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

Posted
Thursday, April 26, 2012 1:00 pm

The Warwick Police Department is among more than two dozen Rhode Island law enforcement agencies participating in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28.

Residents are encouraged to bring expired and/or unwanted prescription drugs to Police headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive in Apponaug, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Officers will ensure that the medications are disposed of properly.

With a recent spike in deaths from prescription and other drugs in the Warwick area, this take back is particularly timely; national studies show that more than half of individuals age 12 and older who abuse prescription drugs got them for free from a family member or friend.

The last national take back day was held in October 2011 and resulted in the collection of more than 377,086 pounds – 188.5 tons – of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal. The past three national events combined resulted in the collection of more than 498.5 tons of prescription drugs.

For more information about the program, call the Warwick Police Department at 468-4200 or visit the DEA website at deadiversion.usdoj.gov.